Governor Linda Lingle will deliver an address to the people of Hawai‘i via the Internet to outline how actions taken and not taken by the Legislature this session will impact the state’s economic recovery and job creation.

The Governor’s address comes at a critical time for our state’s economy and as the 2009 Legislature concludes.  The Governor has invited the public to join her at the State Capitol on Thursday, 3:30 p.m. as she vetoes tax increases on Hawai‘i residents, businesses and visitors which would further hurt the already fragile economy and stall job creation.

The Governor’s Web address can be viewed starting:  4:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Links to: Watch and read Governor Lingle's web address.

The Governor will provide explanations, in full view of the public, as to why she is vetoing the following bills:

• SB1111 – Increases the transient accommodation tax by 28 percent adding to the cost to visitors and residents staying at hotels, time-shares, bed & breakfasts, and motels.
• HB1741 – Increases by up to 257 percent the conveyance tax home buyers, businesses, real estate developers, charities, non-profit organizations and other purchasers of all residential and commercial real estate must pay for transactions over $2 million.
• HB1747 – Increases the personal income tax rate on 36,399 Hawai‘i income tax filers, sole proprietors and small businesses (S-corporations and partnerships) that file their business income as personal income. There are over 20,000 S-corporations, partnerships and sole proprietorships in Hawai‘i, which includes approximately 6,000 sole proprietors.

The public has a unique opportunity to join the Governor in making a difference to ensure these tax increases on Hawai‘i’s residents, businesses, investors and visitors do not erode our ability to recover from the current economic challenges.  Business owners, visitor industry leaders and employees, chambers of commerce, business associations, and other Hawai‘i residents who care deeply about the economic recovery of the state are expected to attend.

The Governor is still reviewing other tax increases passed by the Legislature.